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Keep up to date with the latest development on data protection, children’s rights in the digital environment and more with our news articles and press releases.

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Two young children sitting on the floor of a bright, modern room, focused on a tablet device between them. The child on the left, wearing an orange shirt and dark pants, is sitting cross-legged and watching the screen intently. The child on the right, wearing a blue shirt and jeans, is leaning forward slightly, using one hand to interact with the tablet.
  • News
  • Child Rights
  • United Nations

Bridging the digital divide for children: a global call to action

Later this month, global leaders will gather to sign a Pact for the Future and commit to a new vision to address emerging challenges, including those posed by new and existing technologies. In particular, the Global Digital Compact promises a human-centred digital future for all.
A young person is holding a phone, scrolling through Instagram.
  • News
  • Sexual Exploitation
  • United Kingdom

5Rights challenges Meta’s inaction on AI-generated CSAM

Despite clear evidence from UK Police indicating the presence of Instagram accounts with over 150,000 followers sharing real and AI-generated Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), Meta has failed to take decisive action. We have issued a legal letter demanding urgent intervention.
A woman on the left and a man in the middle. Both are sat on wooden chairs. They are positioned underneath a wooden stable. You can the trees and evening light towards the back of the stable. To the right of the man is an empty chair, used in this campaign to signify the child 'lost' to social media.
  • News
  • Online Harms
  • Canada
  • United Kingdom
  • US

Supporting families globally: our work with The Parents’ Network

5Rights is partnering with Archewell’s Parents’ Network to work with families of children severely impacted by online harms to call for online spaces to be designed with the needs and rights of children in mind.
Boy in a white shirt playing a game on a white tablet computer while sat on a sofa.
  • News
  • Data Protection
  • United Kingdom

Celebrating 3 years of the Age-Appropriate Design Code

Monday 2 September 2024 marks the third anniversary of the UK’s Age Appropriate Design Code. For three years, the Code has helped deliver protections for children online by requiring tech companies to give them a high level…
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New European Commission positioned to advance child rights online
  • News
  • Child Rights
  • European Union

New European Commission positioned to advance child rights online

President Ursula von der Leyen has confirmed the new European Commission for the 2024-2029 term. Child rights in the digital environment are a clear priority, but challenges on capacity and conflicting priorities must be overcome.
The Berlaymont building. A close-up of the European Commission lettering which sits to the right of European Commission logo, in the middle of the image. A man walks past in a blur underneath the logo.
  • News
  • Child Rights
  • European Union

DSA turns 1: more potential for advancing children’s rights

Marking one year since the DSA’s enforcement for VLOPs, we look at the progress made by the European Commission and outline the need for strong guidelines and enforcement to protect child rights online.
A diverse range of children are sat at a desk, engaging with robotic equipment and technology. They are happy and concentrating.
  • News
  • AI
  • Child Rights
  • European Union

EU AI Act enters into force: A crucial step for child protection

The EU AI Act is a promising framework towards ensuring that AI is used and developed responsibly, especially when it comes to protecting children. But its success hinges on robust implementation that prioritises children’s unique vulnerabilities.
A person in a blue suit is dropping a white ballot into a clear ballot box. The person's hand is reaching into the frame from the left side of the image and their ballot is folded in half. The ballot box is made of glass and is sitting on a table in front of the flag of the European Union: a blue flag with twelve gold stars arranged in a circle.
  • News
  • Child Rights
  • European Union

EU Elections: time to hold corporations accountable for children

With the Digital Services Act and AI Act including strong provisions for children rights, the incoming EU’s leaders must deliver practical change for young people.
Two children are sitting at a table, focused on a laptop. The girl points at the screen while the boy looks on attentively. The background shows a cosy room with a yellow chair, a bookshelf, and a large calendar hanging on the wall.
  • News
  • AI
  • European Union

AI Act has potential to transform children’s online experience

The AI Act was just voted into law by the European Parliament: how will it deliver on its promises to all users, including children?
A panel discussion is taking place on a stage with five participants seated in a semicircle. The backdrop displays the title 'Nordic and national implementation of the Digital Services Act' along with the names and titles of the panellists. The panellists are Leanda Barrington-Leach, Executive Director of the 5Rights Foundation; Christine Grahn, Director of Government Relations for Northern Europe at TikTok; Emilio Puccio, Secretary General of the European Parliament Intergroup on Children's Rights and Ane Vester Rasmussen, Political consultant specializing in tech and violence against children at Berns Vilkår. The stage is decorated with a round wooden coffee table in the centre, holding a bouquet of flowers, water bottles, and glasses.
  • News
  • Child Rights
  • European Union

Nordic countries leading on children’s rights in the digital world

The message delivered at the Ctrl + Rights Symposium was clear, Nordic countries have an opportunity to be an example in putting children’s rights at the centre of enforcement and implementation of regulation.
A view of the European Parliament building in Strasbourg, France. The building features a modern design with a curved, glass facade that reflects the sky. In front of the building, a row of flagpoles displays the flags of various European Union Member States, as well as the EU flag itself, which is prominently featured in the foreground. The flags are fluttering in the wind against a clear blue sky.
  • News
  • Online Harms
  • European Union

European Parliament pushes for safe by design tech

Despite the Parliament’s stated commitment to children’s rights in the digital environment, the revised AI Act falls short of ensuring AI systems in the EU are safe for children, by design and default.
A young girl with straight black hair is smiling as she looks at a smartphone she is holding with both hands. The focus is on her face and the phone, suggesting she is enjoying a game or video. The background is blurred.
  • News
  • Age-Assurance
  • Services
  • European Union

CEN-CENELEC adopts key guidance for companies to design for children

Tech companies are now required to design services safe for children, following new guidance by EU standardisation body, CEN-CENELEC. A key step toward standardised age-appropriate design under the DSA.
A wide-angle view of the European Parliament's main chamber, featuring its distinctive semi-circular arrangement of seats. The chamber is empty, with rows of blue seats and desks arranged in concentric arcs facing a central podium. A large European Union flag is displayed on the wall behind the podium, alongside an array of flags representing the member states of the EU.
  • News
  • AI
  • Online Harms
  • European Union

European Parliament’s revisions of AI Act risk jeopardising child safety

Despite the Parliament’s stated commitment to children’s rights in the digital environment, the revised AI Act falls short of ensuring AI systems in the EU are safe for children, by design and default.
An interior view of the European Parliament chamber, focusing on the central area where members sit and deliberate. At the front, a large blue banner with the European Union flag is prominently displayed, flanked by an array of flags representing the member states.
  • News
  • AI
  • Online Harms
  • European Union

AI Act faces pressure to deliver on children’s rights

Civil society coalition calls on the EU Parliament to ensure the AI Act includes strong protections for children, addressing the risks AI systems pose to their rights and safety.
Digital Services Act mandates higher levels of privacy, safety and security for children
  • News
  • Child Rights
  • European Union

Digital Services Act mandates higher levels of privacy, safety and security for children

The EU Digital Services Act sets a new global standard for child safety, requiring tech platforms to implement higher privacy, safety, and security measures for children, with strict penalties for non-compliance.
A young girl at home is recording a video with her smartphone to upload on social media. She looks happy and she is wearing brown overalls over a mustard-coloured shirt.
  • Press Release
  • Child Rights
  • European Union

Last minute DSA compromises risk leaving children with no protections online

EU risks leaving millions of children exposed to online harms. In a joint letter, 5Rights urges MEPs to strengthen the Digital Services Act to protect children from online harms.